Electric clipper cleaner and sterilizer



March 2 4, 1964 T. M. MILLER 3,126,247

ELECTRIC CLIPPER CLEANER AND STERILIZER Filed Feb. 26, 1962 7 f f 4 5 f r l i 5 n INVENTOR.

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UnitedStates Patent O M' 3,126,247 ELECTREC CLIPPER CLEANER AND STERILIZER Themas M. Milier, Dallas, Tex. Filed Feb. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 175,660 1 Claim. (Cl. 21-83) This invention relates to an electric clipper cleaner and sterilizer, and has as its primary object the provision of a compact power driven cleaner and sterilizer for electric clippers such as those employed by barbers, for example.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character comprised of a pair of rollers, having bristles thereon, and means for rotating said rollers oppositely with the clippers therebetween in order to remove all foreign matter and debris, such as hair from the clippers, while at the same time sterilizing the operating end of the same.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein a lower drawer is provided into which the clipped hair, bristles, lather, or the like, removed from the clippers may fall, in order to facilitate removal thereof from the interior of the cleaner.

An additional object of the invention is the provision, in such a drawer, of a receptacle for containing conventional gas type sterilizing tablets, the gas exuding therefrom permeating the entire interior f the casing to thor oughly sterilize the clippers.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eilicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and utilize.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is of relatively small size, and light weight, which may be easily transported from place to place.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view, partially broken away, disclosing one form of device embodying the instant inventive concept, certain concealed portions being indicated in dotted lines.

FlGURE 2 is an end view of the structure of FIG. l as viewed from the right, parts thereof being broken away and other parts being indicated in dotted lines; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of FIG. l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at a sterilizer constructed in accordance with the instant invention, and which includes a housing or cabinet structure including a front wall 11, a rear wall 12, oppositely disposed end walls 13 and 14, an arcuate top wall 15, and a bottom Wall 16.

The front wall of the cabinet is provided with a door or opening 16 which includes a conventional catch member 17 and which is hinged as on hinges 18 to permit the insertion of a pair of clippers, or the like, to be cleaned and sterilized. Positioned interiorly of the casing 1G are an upper roller 19 and a lower roller 20, each of which is comprised of an axle 21 and 22, respectively, the axles being journalled in bushings 23 and 24, respectively, mounted on wall 13, and 25 and 26, respectively, mounted on wall 14, each of the bushings containing suitable conventional ball bearing structure to permit free rotation of the axles.

Each axle has flxedly secured thereto a core 27 and 28, respectively, each core being provided with longitudinally 3,126,247 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 ICC and radially aligned rows of openings 29, and each opening containing tufted bristles 30 to provide a brush surface 31, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

A space 3S is thus left between the roller faces 31 into which a conventional barbers clipper or the like is adapted to be inserted.

The lower roller axle 22 is mounted at the end adjacent wall 13 in a flexible bushing to enable the opposite end thereof to be biased upwardly by means of a spring 36, one end of which seats on a projection 37 extending from Wall 14, and the other end of which, 38, engages beneath the bearing housing 26, it being noted that the axle 22 extends through a vertically elongated opening or slot in end wall 14 to permit limited movement thereof for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

An opening 40 is positioned in the lower portion of front wall 11 and has slidably mounted therein a tray or drawer 41 provided with a pull handle 42, the drawer being adapted to receive all material removed from the clippers by the brushes, and being so arranged as to be readily removable for emptying when required. An inner rectangular receptacle 43 seated in the drawer 41 has positioned therein suitable sterilizing tablets of conventional type which are adapted to exude a sterilizing gas permeating the entire interior of the housing 10.

Means are provided for driving the axles 21 and 22 and their associated rollers in opposite directions, and take the form of a suitable electric motor 45 which is secured in any desired manner as by bolts 46 to the top wall 15 of the casing. Motor 45 is provided with an electrical cord 47 having a plug 48 and is adapted to be plugged into any standard outlet for energization. A drive shaft 49 extends from the motor 15 and drives a pulley 50 which is grooved to receive a V-belt 51, belt 51 in turn engaging an enlarged pulley 52 carried by the end of axle 21 exteriorly of wall 14.

Axle 22 carries a at surfaced pulley or Wheel 53 provided with a hub 54 having set screw or other means 45 therein for securing the same with the axle. A rubber tire 56 surrounds the wheel or pulley 53, and bears against the outer surface of V-belt 51 so that rotation of axle 21 is imparted to axle 22, to rotate the brush assemblies 30 in opposite directions', it being noted that the spring 37 affords sufficient pressure closely to engage the tire or band 56 with the exterior of V-belt 51 and afford driving traction.

A supplemental housing 57 encloses motor 45, and has a depending portion 58 which surrounds the drive pulleys 52 and 53, and which includes a depending lug 60 which is secured by means of a bolt 61 to side wall 14. A similar lug 62 secured by a bolt 63 to the top wall 15 of casing 1t) permits ready removal of the auxiliary casing 57 to permit access to the external portions of the assembly.

By appropriate wiring (not shown), opening and closing the door 16 may automatically start and stop motor 45, if desired.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved clipper cleaner which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A clipper cleaner and sterilizer comprising, in combination, a housing including front, back, side, top and bottom walls dening a substantially closed chamber, upper and lower, vertically spaced, axles extending transversely between said side walls, one end of each axle extending through one side wall, a rotary brush on each axle, an access door in said front wall permitting insertion of clippers into said chamber to be cleaned between said brushes, said front wall having an opening beneath said brushes, a drawer normally closing said opening and slidable in said opening, said drawer receiving foreign matter removed from the clippers, a central open topped receptacle in said drawer for the reception of sterilizing tablets, sterilizing tablets exuding a sterilizing gas in said receptacle, said gas rising from said open topped receptacle to permeate said chamber in said housing, an electric motor mounted on said top wall, a drive pulley driven by said motor, a rst driven pulley on the extending end of said upper axle, a second driven pulley on the extending end of said lower axle, a drive belt connecting said drive pulley and said first driven pulley, a rubber tire surrounding said second driven pulley and contacting said drive belt on said first pulley to drive said lower axle, bearings carried interiorly of said side walls journalling said axles, one of said side walls having a vertical slot through which said extending end of said lower axle protrudes, an inwardly extending lug on said one of said side walls beneath said lower axle, a compression spring mounted on said lug and abutting the bearing carrying the adjacent end of said lower axle biasing said adjacent end upwardly to insure frictional engagement of said tire with said drive belt and a removable supplemental housing surrounding said motor and said drive and driven pulleys.

Swords Sept. 19, 1961 Jensen Nov. 14, 1961 

